Given that evil abides by no rules, how do the forces of justice stand a chance?

How the lawman hero rises to that challenge without succumbing to evil himself is known as the Task of Justice, and it lies at the heart of all great mystery-crime-thriller stories.

In this pre-conference workshop, award-winning author and conference co-chair David Corbett will lead students through an exploration of this problem in its various incarnations—e.g., the Tainted Hero, the Noble Villain, the Moral No Man’s Land—with specific attention to how to present the hero’s challenge in each of the three main sub-genres: Mystery, Crime, and Thriller.

David Corbett worked 15 years for the famed private investigation firm of Palladino & Sutherland. He is the author of several novels including Done for a Dime (A New York Times Notable Book), and his latest, The Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday. His writing text, The Art of Character, has been called “a writer’s bible.”

The four-day Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference has a strong tradition of great authors and teachers. It covers everything mystery writers need—from developing ideas and writing skills to finding a publisher. Participants work closely with mystery writers, agents, editors, and publishers as well as investigators and crime-fighting professionals.